GREEN BAY, WI - OCTOBER 15: C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers runs with the ball against Kentrell Brice #29 of the Green Bay Packers in the first quarter at Lambeau Field on October 15, 2018 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)

Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after he is is stopped by defensive back Casey Hayward #26 of the Los Angeles Chargers with a hit to the helmet in the third quarter of the game at StubHub Center on Sept. 30, 2018 in Carson, California.

San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback C.J. Beathard (3) walks off the field after a missed scoring opportunity against the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth quarter at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)

SANTA CLARA — You know those styrofoam noodles used in pools or at the lake? The 49ers have swatted quarterbacks with them in some practice warmups this season.

You know how defensive players force fumbles? It may be a lost art to some but 49ers defenders are trying more and more to rip the ball in practice from offensive players hands, “to the point they hurt guys’ fingers,” coach Kyle Shanahan said.

Those examples, however, haven’t helped the NFL’s most turnover-prone team.

“We could have every single person carry around a football like you see in movies. That’s about all that’s left,” Shanahan said of ball-security practice.

Of the 49ers’ 18 turnovers, C.J. Beathard accounts for seven interceptions and three lost fumbles while going 0-4 in place of the injured Jimmy Garoppolo.
C.J. Beathard of the San Francisco 49ers is sacked by Samson Ebukam of the Los Angeles Rams forcing a 1st quarter turnover at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Oct.21, 2018. (Karl Mondon/Bay Area News Group)

As Beathard and the offense rack up more turnovers in the remaining nine games, it’s worth wondering whether this is a systemic issue that will carry over to 2019, when the 49ers can welcome back Garoppolo, presuming his rebuilt knee cooperates.

“We’re trying to focus on doing little things better, trying not to get in second-and-long situations where you can avoid some tips and things like that, where you become one dimensional,” Shanahan said.

Beathard acknowleded he’s made a “couple bad decisions,” but he also noted: “A lot of them aren’t bad reads. They’re just unfortunate plays. But I definitely want to work on taking care of the ball better in the pocket and throwing it.”

The only quarterbacks with more turnovers than Beathard this year: Sam Darnold (New York Jets, 11) and Blake Bortles (Jacksonville Jaguars, 11) while the Raiders Derek Carr also has 10. Beathard’s 5.0 interception percentage (7 in 141 attempts) ranks ahead of only the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Jameis Winson (5 in 113).

Two of his past three interceptions have come on passes into tight windows for Marquise Goodwin. How can Goodwin and others limit turnovers? “It’s not rocket science: Hold onto the ball when you get it,” Goodwin said.

Garoppolo, by the way, had three passes intercepted in a season-opening loss at Minnesota, and, a week later against Detroit, he luckily had a fourth-quarter interception nullified by a defensive holding penalty to preserve the 49ers’ only win. He totaled five interceptions in last December’s 5-0 debut.

Former NFL lineman Brian Baldinger, currently an analyst both on radio and for NFL.com, unleashed a torrent of Tweets blasting the 49ers after their 39-10 loss to the Rams.

“I’ve never seen such ineptitude as what the 49ers show when taking care of the football. It’s everywhere,” Baldinger tweeted. “…

The ball’s always on the ground when the 49ers play. They can’t even do the basis of taking a snap. If they go out to practice, that’s all they should do, it’s just practice holding onto the football.”

.@49ers are as “sloppy & careless” with the 🏈🏈🏈 as I have ever seen. These following 6 plays all occurred in the first 23 minutes of this contest. If there is 1 just 1 only 1 thing this TEAM needs to concentrate on the last 9 games : it’s ALL about the 🏈 #BaldysBreakdownspic.twitter.com/SkGJA1eOES

PETTIS RETURNS: Wide receiver Dante Pettis looks poised to return from a knee injury and join the offense for the first time since Week 3. “That excites us,” Shanahan said.

It also excites Pettis, who got hurt returning a first-quarter punt in Week 4 at the Chargers. “I couldn’t move my leg at first,” said Pettis of the most significant leg injury he’s ever sustained. He termed it “terrible” to have to watch instead of play.

Pierre Garçon did not practice because of a knee injury and is doubtful for Sunday’s game, Shanahan said.

RUN AROUND: Running back Matt Breida (ankle) did not practice but don’t be surprised if he surfaces later this week. Shanahan said that Breida’s ankle has responded well, even after he aggravated it Sunday and sat out the final three quarters. Raheem Mostert and Alfred Morris practiced and, even after back-to-back successful showings, Mostert still likely would split time with Morris if Breida can’t play, based on how Shanahan has split carries all season among his backs.

SCOUTING REPORT: The Cardinals’ current crisis revolves around cornerback Patrick Peterson and whether he’ll be traded before next week’s deadline. Peterson, who has no interceptions in 15 career games against the 49ers, issued a statement Wednesday saying he’s staying with the Cardinals “for years to come” and his focus is on this week’s game.”

Peterson has jumped out during Beathard’s film study of the Cardinals. “He’s one of the best cornerbacks in the game and you’ve always got to be aware where he is,” Beathard said. “He knows quarterbacks’ tendencies as far as their feet and eyes. He’s seen it all.”

CORNERBACK OR SAFETY: Richard Sherman (left calf) was limited in practice and has missed two of the past three games, so perhaps that could give the 49ers reservations about moving Jimmie Ward from cornerback to free safety. Ward was also limited Wednesday after also missing Sunday’s loss. Rookie D.J. Reed still has first dibs on becoming the starting free safety in place of Adrian Colbert, who went on injured reserve with a high ankle injury.

LINEBACKER HELP: Dekoda Watson returned to practice as the 49ers now have two weeks to evaluate whether to activate him off injured reserve. He injured a hamstring before their season opener. Although known for his special-teams ability, the ninth-year veteran had shown signs in the exhibition season as a possible boost to the 49ers’ pass rush.